Principal hosts Last Tree Dreaming commemorative ceremony

A commemorative plaque to celebrate the work on the Last Tree Dreaming project was unveiled at a ceremony hosted by Mr Ball on Wednesday 17 May, for all the artists, young people and organisers who have supported the project from its conception in 2013.

The 250 year old, 17.3 meter, 11 tonne, Oak tree has been erected at Frome College’s Bath Road entrance. It fell in Turner's Paddock at Stourhead, and was featured in the painting 'View over the lake at Stourhead' by JMW Turner in 1798. The Heritage Lottery awarded the project £40,000 to involve Frome's young people in the tree's historical and ecological heritage. The sculpture signifies the depleted great forest of Selwood, first recorded in 898, which once covered the whole Frome area. The tree is lit up at night to highlight the students hand carved tattoos into the heartwood of the tree making it a beacon of hope for the future.

Sculptor Barry Cooper said “I would like to thank all those who have made this project happen. In particular: My wife Kath Cooper, who initially found the tree at Stourhead in 2013. Gavin Ball, for hosting Last Tree Dreaming at Frome College. Anthony Rogers, for enthusiastically collaborating with me on this sculpture; for carving the tree with Frome's young people. Grant Gellatly, for overseeing the design and engineering of the sculpture; was collaborating with our structural engineer Austen Cook from Momentum in Bath. Azeema Caffoor, who host-directed the project in Young People Frome. Angela Yeoman, our Patron who has supported the project wholeheartedly from the beginning. Kim Portnell, who arranged for the tree to be donated to the Frome community and approached Henry Hoare to provide our initial funding. Dougie Williams and the core group of Frome College students who led the project. Open Story Tellers, who initially led on the film about Selwood Forest. The Duke of Edinburgh and Selwood Academy students who actually made the film. Matthew Marshall for providing an enthusiastic and active partnership with Somerset Wildlife Trust. Helen Moore for working with young people in poetry, script; Forest School. Howard Vause who made two outstanding films about the project.

Also, I would like to thank the Frome College staff who have helped us achieve planning, supported the project administratively over the last 3 years, provided all the College support on the ground, and whose idea it was to place the tree in this particular location. Mark Riley who provided 2 cranes for the erection of the tree. Claire Marsland, for facilitating the employment of 60 first school children in carving the tree, and organising a procession for them to replant Selwood with sapling trees. Diana Walker for donating 60 native sapling trees from Barters Farm Nurseries. Ruth Knagg for facilitating the planting of the saplings in Whatcombe Fields. Andrew Hopkins who provided over 50 tons of concrete, to support the tree. John and Allan Brown for their hours of work preparing the tree and making the reinforced structure to support the tree. Pete Aylesbury, who was responsible for getting the tree from Stourhead to the Frome College campus, Julian Height, who is promoting the revival of Selwood Forest, and to Michael McGarvie, who provided the historical perspective on Selwood Forest."